Missouri FFA Members Converge on Fairgrounds to Help Feed Hungry Kids

The Missouri FFA Food Insecurity Service Day’s Drive to Feed Kids was held Monday and Tuesday, with over 800 FFA members from 91 chapters taking part in assembling and packing thousands of food boxes at the Lowell Mohler Building to be delivered across Missouri to hungry kids at various food banks and food pantries.

We spoke with Missouri FFA State President Ivy Elwell from La Monte, about the event:

“I Love FFA and I owe my success and experiences to FFA,” Elwell told KSIS on Tuesday afternoon, adding that she has an older sister who also participated in Future Farmers of America.

Elwell credited her freshman Ag teacher, Ms. Jenkins, for her encouragement to get involved in FFA.

“She really believed in me and told me that I could be where I am today, so I’m really proud of her and thankful to her for that,” she said.

The 800 FFA members were split into two shifts, with one group packing in the morning and the rest packing beans, rice & soybeans into the boxes in the afternoon.

In total, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chirs Chinn reported the group packed about 177,792 meals.

Elwell added that the program is “super impactful” in helping feed hungry kids.

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A lunch for the FFA was held at noon Tuesday at the Nucor Pavilion with Elwell and Missouri Farmers Care Executive Director Ashley McCarty in attendance. The Drive to Feed Kids is being managed by the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public charity.